BLACKBURNE JACKSON DESIGN ALWAYS CONSIDERS THE ENVIRONMENT IN ITS PROJECTS AND EXEMPLIFIES GOOD ARCHITECTURE AND CLEVER DESIGN
Article published in Life&Style Weekend, Saturday April 14, 2018
They are among the Coast’s most influential people, and they have been working behind the scenes for decades.
Meet Stephen Cope, Rohan Jackson and David Shields.
The humble trio are the directors of Blackburne Jackson Design, a multi-disciplinary firm specialising in architecture, landscape architecture, interior design and project management.
Originally based in Brisbane since 1932, the firm’s HQ madea sea change in the late ’60s and has been an instrumental influence on the Coast’s urban landscape the past 40 years… but Stephen, Rohan and David don’t stop there.
Avid supporters of local charities, Stephen says they are passionate about giving back to the community through fundraising as well as offering their services pro bono for the design of buildings, interiors and landscapes.
They have donated an equivalent value of $60,000 to design and document the Reed Charity House (next to the Nambour hospital), the disabled compliant connection bridge from Reed Charity House to the Nambour Hospital, Wishlist Garden Nambour Hospital, Brothers Rugby Union Club, Stockland Park Kawana and design of the pediatric emergency ward at the Nambour Hospital.
Most recently they have been involved in the pro bono design and documentation of the innovative and hopefully life-changing eating disorder clinic, EndEd, on the Sunshine Coast.
Then there are the numerous sponsorships, donations and fundraisers for charities including the Wishlist Waterlife Row for Cancer, Cancer Relay for Life, Buderim Foundation, Rotary Club Noosa, Sunshine Coast Police Citizens, Kokoda Challenge, not to mention supporting student work experience programs for numerous local schools plus many of the region’s architectural university students commuting to Brisbane for study.
Blackburne Jackson Design aren’t just a part of our buildings, schools, halls, hospitals or parks, they’re a part of the community… and they want a bright Sunshine Coast for future generations through the creation of beautiful, inspiring buildings that improve people’s interaction with the built environment.
“Sustainability isa part of our methodology and philosophy and is at the core of everything we design,” David said.
Stephen has been with Blackburne Jackson Design for 30 years and he agrees.
“Good architecture and clever design has always been sustainable. We have always held that belief and we design accordingly,” Stephen said.
When the sustainability codes came in, Stephen said Blackburne Jackson Design didn’t have to change much as they always considered the environment in their projects.
Rohan’s father, Ian Jackson, was a previous director of Blackburne Jackson Design along with Jim Blackburne.
As a second-generation architect, Rohan says their outlook has remained the same – design with purpose.
“Our philosophy has always been to design functional buildings that consider the urban landscape. We create the best possible outcome and provide design solutions that are practical, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing,” Rohan said.
Rohan first started working in the office during his school holidays in 1990. After school he went on to study architecture and in 1997 after his fourth year of university, he returned to Blackburne Jackson Design working four days a week. Rohan graduated in 2000 and continued working full-time until he managed to convince his father and Jim to let him take leave and work overseas in England.
Nine months later, he left London and returned to work on Maroochydore’s Platinum apartment project at Duporth Ave. The building blocks were in place and in 2005 he became a director of the firm.
“The greatest influence Ian had on me was my work ethic,” Rohan said of his father.
“In general terms his influence was morearound being respectful, punctual, reliable, honest and trustworthy– characteristics that are important for every aspect of your life and they have carried across from my personal life to the business.”
It’s these ethics– personal and professional – which have been passed down the generations at Blackburne Jackson
Design, creating a one-of-a-kind culture. Their clientele proves this.
“We are very fortunate to have some truly amazing clients who we have done numerous projects for over the years,” Stephen said.
“We have constantly worked with builders, developers and had regular work designing institutional projects like health and educational facilities. We have a really loyal client base who we have built solid relationships with over the years.”
While they are based on the Sunshine
David said, in the late 1980s, the Coast was at risk of going down the path of the Gold Coast, but thankfully local architects evolved.
“Over the years we have created a style that is a response to the environment that is
a collective of the design philosophies of the architects, town planners and council while meeting client expectations,” David said.
“I hope there will always bea distinctive Sunshine Coast style here that evolves as we move forward.
“I would hate the Sunshine Coast to simply
follow or copy others in terms of delivering on-design outcomes.”
While keeping the Coast identity, David,
Stephen and Rohan hope the next batch of
Hancock St, Mooloolaba, which was my first real project in the office,” Rohan said.
“Another project would be the Balgownie Vineyard and Resort in the Yarra Valley.I learnt a lot working on this multi-staged development and utilised construction materials not used on the Coast before.
“And finally,a projectI called Back House,
which was my own home that I completed with my wife, Jessica. It gave us the opportunity to explore our own concepts for sub-tropical living.”
David’s proudest project was one of the firm’s multi-residential projects, Inn on the Park in Brisbane.
“It was a great site but there were issues raised by the neighbours regarding the development, particularly over their potential
Coast, Blackburne Jackson Design offer their services across Australia and internationally.
David said a challenge they’ve had to overcome is the perception that a local firm
was too small and inexperienced to undertake sizable jobs.
“This simply isn’t the case and there are a
I H OPE WE CO NT INU E TO S EE ARCH IT EC TURE EVOLVE BU T I N WAYS THAT M INIM ISE TH E I MPAC T I T W ILL HAVE ON THE LA NDSCA PE .
— STEP HEN COPE
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to lose views.
“The project ended up in the Planning and Environment Court but was subsequently approved as we were able to come up with a design that maximised the site outcome for the developer while also answering a lot of the criteria raised as issues by the
number of firms who have the benefit of very
knowledgeable people with many years of experience working on large and complex projects,” David added.
David brings extensive experience in the design of large and complex buildings, both here and abroad, having worked on shopping
centres like Australia Fair, five-star hotels, convention centres, hospitals, education facilities, Queensland Parliament House and even prisons with a previous firm, Peddle Thorpe and Harvey.
David’s innate ability to understand the
bigger picture, among the complexities and challenges of large projects, was recognised by Peddle Thorpe and Harvey and, as a result, he was made the firm’s youngest-ever associate at the time.
Meanwhile Stephen started with
Blackburne Jackson Design in 1988 as a junior draftsperson and gradually worked his way through to more senior roles.
comfortably say there is no better place to
call home than the Sunshine Coast,” Stephen said. “Every morning I drive over the hill at Alexandra Headland and the sweeping views to Noosa just take your breath away. Architects and designers do not have to live where a building is being constructed, we can work from anywhere.”
Rohan couldn’t agree more.
“I was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast. Later in life, I was fortunate enough to travel which gave me a great appreciation of what a special part of the world the Coast is. My time spent living abroad reinforced that I didn’t want to live anywhere else. We are very lucky to be able to call the Sunshine Coast home,” Rohan said.
With their hearts entrenched on the Coast, Stephen, Rohan and David hope the region’s urban landscape maintains its own identity
and unique style of architecture while respecting the natural environment.
architects also respect the sub-tropical
environment and resources.
“I would like to see the firm and those who follow in our footsteps continue to help shape the future of the Sunshine Coast, always being mindful of the impact their designs have on both the urban fabric and natural environment,” Rohan said.
“I hope we continue to see architecture evolve but in ways that minimise the impact it will have on the landscape.
“We have a beautiful and unique region and we must design with that in mind,” Stephen said. Looking back at their outstanding careers at Blackburne Jackson Design, Rohan said picking a favourite project was like asking, “Which is your favourite child?”.
“I would have to say that I don’t have favourites, however, some are more memorable than others (for a variety of reasons) and these include the Sajen office in
neighbouring residents – all while delivering
a beautiful, unique building,” David said. And looking back at Stephen’s 30 years
with Blackburne Jackson Design, the Mooloolaba International Hotel (Mantra, Mooloolaba) gets the nod due to its size and complexity.
But it’s not the end for the influential yet modest trio.
Stephen said Blackburne Jackson Design have “too many to list” projects coming up. Always striving to create beautiful, inspiring buildings that improve people’s interaction with the built environment, current projects vary from bespoke homes to Parkridge in Noosa and the updated masterplan and works for Buderim Private Hospital.
The team at Blackburne Jackson Design continue to work behind the scenes to do their bit for the Coast’s identity, environment and people.